|
|
Emmy Award winning personality, Giada
De Laurentiis has become a household name. With an impressive background of
culinary training and a unique personable charm, she is a globally revered
celebrity chef who continues to prove her skill and accessibility not only
with her expanding presence beyond Food Network but also with the great
success of her cookbooks, brand alliances, newly launched food products and
recurring role on the “Today Show.”
Born in Rome, Giada grew up in a large Italian family where the culture of
food was a staple in and of itself. As the granddaughter of film producer
Dino De Laurentiis, Giada consistently found herself in the family’s kitchen
and spent a great deal of time at her grandfather’s restaurant, DDL Food
show.
After graduating from the University of California in Los Angeles with a
degree in anthropology, Giada’s passion for cooking remained.
She eventually made the decision to commence a culinary career and began her
professional training at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, specializing in both
cuisine and pastry. Following, she returned to Los Angeles, where her
training included positions at the prestigious Ritz Carlton Fine Dining Room
and Wolfgang Puck’s Spago in Beverly Hills. She later founded GDL Foods, a
catering company in Los Angeles.
Giada’s career start on Food Network began in 2002 when she was discovered
by a network executive upon reading an article about her and the De
Laurentiis family in FOOD & WINE magazine. Since then, Giada has earned an
Emmy for Outstanding Lifestyle Host and has become one of Food Network’s
most recognizable faces. Her Emmy award winning, daytime cooking show,
“Everyday Italian,” featured quick, healthy and satisfying Italian dishes.
Her primetime show, “Giada’s Weekend Getaways,” debuted in January 2007 and
followed Giada to popular destinations in and around the United States as
she explored the cities’ most notable restaurants and activities. Giada can
also be seen in Food Network specials, such as “Giada in Paradise: Capri and
Santorini,” and as a judge on the highly popular series, “Next Food Network
Star.”
Giada is now in production on her new series, “Giada at Home,” where
Giada plans and prepares meals and parties for family and friends. The
series premiered last Fall to some of the networks most impressive ratings
to date and continues to be a viewers’ favorite.
The foray into cookbooks was an obvious decision, allowing Giada’s loyal
viewer ship to reference, prepare and share their favorite recipes. De
Laurentiis’ first book, “Everyday Italian,” showcases many of the delicious
recipes from her cooking show of the same name. Her second book entitled,
“Giada’s Family Dinners,” quickly became a #1 New York Times best-seller as
did her third cookbook, “Everyday Pasta,” which was released in April 2007.
An eagerly-awaited fourth book, “Giada’s Kitchen,” hit bookshelves on
September 30, 2008 and did not disappoint. In the first week of release,
“Giada’s Kitchen” landed at #2 on the New York Times best-seller list and
has maintained a top 10 ranking ever since. All four books are published by
Random House/Clarkson Potter. De Laurentiis’ fifth book, “Giada at Home”
debuted on March 30th, 2010 and landed in the #1 position on the New York
Times best-seller list.
Giada’s overall success and notoriety yielded her a role as spokesperson for
Barilla, the world’s largest producer and manufacturer of pasta. Giada took
her relationship with Barilla one step further, entrusting the Italian arm
of the brand, known as Academia Barilla, to license and produce four
products under her name. The products: Extra-virgin Olive Oil, Balsamic
Vinegar, Tuscan Herb Mix, and Sea Salt with Fresh Lemon Zest, debuted in
January 2008 for a limited run and was sold at Crate and Barrel stores as
well as specialty gourmet shops across the country.
In January 2010, De Laurentiis partnered with Target to launch her own
exclusive products for their chain of stores nationwide. The Giada De
Laurentiis for Target collection offers guests the craftsmanship, quality
and affordable prices they expect from Target. The assortment ranges from
pasta sauces and flavored coffee to kitchen essentials, such as stainless
steel cookware, ceramic bake ware and nylon tools, all designed with the
at-home cook in mind. The collection captures Giada’s signature style with a
fresh, modern twist on the tools, gadgets and food needed to make easy and
affordable meals everyday.
In June 2010, De Laurentiis will join fellow chef Bobby Flay to co-judge
“Next Food Network Star.”
Giada had been a recurring guest on the “Today Show” up until her stint as a
correspondent during the 2006 Olympic Games in Torino secured her a role as
a contributing correspondent. Last year, she was officially named a co-host
on the nation’s #1 morning show where she highlights current trends in
travel, cuisine and lifestyle.
Giada has dedicated her spare time to the international relief organization,
Oxfam America and enlisted as one of several celebrity Ambassador in the
Fall of 2008. Giada has focused her efforts with Oxfam on highlighting the
struggles of the billion people around the world who are chronically hungry.
Forty percent of the people on our planet live in poverty, many of them
spending upwards of 70 percent of their meager income on food.
De Laurentiis currently resides in Los Angeles with her husband Todd and
daughter, Jade.
Source: IMDB & Askman
Courtesy: Sehr Nadeem
|
Sehr Nadeem